Monday, 30 April 2018

Lagos Records 600,000 Uptake Of Family Planning In Six months

In less than six months, there was uptake of family planning (FP) by 600,000 women, following improved services in Lagos state, enabling the state to prevent 46,000 unsafe abortions, 143,000 unintended pregnancies and 800 maternal deaths, according to its Ministry of Health.

Stating this was the Dr. Folashade Oludara, Director of Family Health and Nutrition, Lagos State Ministry of Health (LSMOH) who reasoned that if such danger could be prevented in less than six months in 2017 alone, the huge benefits of family planning should not be underestimated.

Oludare, spoke at the annual media forum organised by Development Communications Network, (Devcoms) recently in collaboration with the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) and LSMOH.

She stressed that family planning and child spacing is one of the most effective ways of reducing maternal deaths arising from preventable causes.

She explained; “Family planning is a tool for safe motherhood and not for promiscuity.

“It is one of the major components and pillars of Safe-motherhood. It is methods that assist individuals in deciding the number of children to have and when to have them. This will ultimately improve the economy of individuals, families and the nation as a whole.”

But, the Director of Family Health and Nutrition lamented that despite the benefits it offers, the current uptake of contraceptives is still low.

In a presentation titled, “Family Planning, Child Spacing: Empowering People, Building Nations,” she said: “Family planning brings life to mother as a person, it also creates healthy environment for the nation, and it allows our woman to reach old age and attain their full potential because so many women’s destinies are being cut short because of unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion.”

Findings showed that the country’s Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) is as low as 15.1 per cent which is far from the 36 per cent target by 2020.

According to a new study published by the Guttmacher Institute, contraceptive services and maternal and newborn health (MNH) services fall far short of needs in developing countries like Nigeria.

To improve uptake of family planning in the state, Oludara said the Ministry of Health has been making giants strides to ensure that a wide range of modern family planning methods are available and accessible to the target populace.

“This includes provision of free family planning commodities and services at all Public health facilities and private facilities with trained providers, establishment of efficient system of supply and distribution of FP commodities to all providers, and public enlightenment on FP.

She said husbands who prevent their wives from accessing family planning services for the fear of infidelity should desist from such attitude, stressing that family planning is not a tool for promiscuity.

Oludare who urged husbands to support their wives to adopt use of family planning, said this will reduce the high rate of maternal mortality in the country.

The Director, Family Health and Nutrition, also advised nursing mothers to breast feed their babies soon after delivery.

This is for such babies get colostrum, which will guard them against infections, she said on the sidelines of annual media forum on family planning/child spacing.

According to her, colostrum, the first milk that comes out once a mother gives birth, is regarded as a child’s first immunisation.

Oludara said, “Every nursing mother should exclusively breastfeed the baby from birth to up to six months.

“The colostrum, the first milk that comes out once a mother gives birth, must be given to the child because that is the first immunisation the child takes.

“Colostrum is a clear, thick and sticky liquid produced by a mother’s mammary glands after a child’s birth

“It is a God-given immunisation, packed with natural antibodies and nutrients; it prevents the child from infections, diarrhoea and gastrointestinal discomforts.’’

“Colostrum is produced in small quantity for the first four days and then replaced with a lighter and thinner liquid

“It should not be pressed out; it gives the baby a chance to fight against bacteria, parasites and disease causing pathogens.

“There is also misconception that it colostrum dirty, it is not.

“The colour and thickness of colostrum are due to the fact that it is rich in protein and carbohydrate, has low sugar content and fat, compared to other milks.

“Breastfeeding also increases mother to child bonding,” she said.

Oludara further urged nursing mothers to breastfeed their babies exclusively for six months before introducing complementary feeding.

“Mothers should breast feed their babies exclusively for six months after which complementary feeding should start, alongside breastfeeding.

“Complementary feeding is just the introduction of adult diet to the child.

“Continue to breastfeed the child till the child is two years at least, so that the child’s cognitive development will be perfect and the child will mature well.”

Mrs. Chioma Adanma Umeha is a journalist of over two decades experience. At the moment, she is the Health Editor of Newswatch Times, Lagos, Nigeria.
A graduate of Mass Communications from Anambra State University, Enugu, she also holds a Masters Degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos.

Search This Blog

Pages

Follow by Email

Follow by Email

About Me

Mrs. Chioma Adanma Umeha is a journalist of over two decades experience. At the moment, she is the Health Editor of Newswatch Times, Lagos, Nigeria.
A graduate of Mass Communications from Anambra State University, Enugu, she also holds a Masters Degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos.